Electric-lighting system.



No. 695,870. Patented Mar. I8, I902.

E. THOMSON &. E. J. HOUSTON.

ELECTRIC LIGHTING SYSTEM.

(Application filed Feb. 19, 1887.)

(No Model.)

W/TNESSES: fig/V 7" luyfik ATTORNEYS 7H: Nonms man; cu, PHOTO-LITHO.. wAsmNm-ou. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC ELIHU THOMSON, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, AND EDXVIN J. HOUSTON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRIC-HG HTlNG SYSTEM.

SPECIFIuATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 695,870, dated March 18, 1902.

Application filed February 19,1887. Serial No. 228,183. (No model.)

T wZZ 107 i m y G ary coils. a shows diagrammatically the Be it known that we, ELIHU THOMSON, a preferred form of our invention. resident of Lynn, in the county of Essex and In Fig. 1 is shown one form of our inven- State of Massachusetts, and EDWIN J. HOUS- tion which we modify to suit peculiarities of 5 TON, a resident of Philadelphia, in the county conditions of working. The soft-iron core M of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, M is constructed, as shown in Fig. 2, by rollcitizens of the United States, have invented a ing a sheet of thin iron whose width is equal certain new and usefulElectric-Lighting Systo the length of the core desired into a close tem, of which the followingisaspecification. spiral around an iron rod which passes 10 Our invention relates to an induction apthrough its center. The sheet is coated beparatus whereby electric currents-alternatfore rolling with varnish orsome other pliable ing, interrupted, or variedupon one circuit non-conducting material. By means of this may produce electric currents on a separate arrangement a thorough subdivision of the or independent circuit to be utilized in the core is obtained, whereby the circulation of 15 production of electric light or for other purinduction-currents is prevented without unposes, such as motive power. necessaryloss of space. The core M M is sur- Our invention provides a means whereby rounded by a coil or coils P P, whose termiclectric energy generated at one point and nals are connected with the circuit leading supplied to an electric circuit may be utilized from a source of currents which are varying,

20 at another point in the shape of a current of interrupted, or reversed. The coreMM is also low electromotive force for the production of surrounded by coils S S S S, having free terelectric light on a separate circuit. minals which are to be connected with the ar- Our invention also affords a means whereby rangement for producing the light, here typia single alternating current generated at one fied as two carbon electrodes E E, contained 25 point and flowing over an electric circuit in a closed transparent case. These latter may be utilized in the production of an indeficoils differ from the secondary coilsin the wellnite number of lights at any other point, the known Ruhmkorff apparatus in being concharacter of the current operating the lights struct-edo'f coarse wire,whose electrical resistbeing adapted in quantity to the light appaances are much less than the resistance of the 30 ratus and not being necessarily of the same carbon contacts connected to these terminals character or of a higher electromotive force and used as the source of light. This latter than the main or inducing alternating currelation of resistances is a vital feature in the rent, as would be the case if induction-coils application of our invention. The coils S S of the ordinary construction were employed. S S differ also from the secondary coils of the 35 In the practice of our invention a single vaordinary Ruhmkorif apparatus, in that they ried, intermittent, or reversed current is einrequire no special insulation, since the elecployed through the agency of coils of insutromotive force of the currents developed in lated wire to magnetize a soft-iron core, by them is comparatively low, and being promeans of which varied, interrupted, or reduced in a circuit of very low resistance the 40 versed currents are set up in one or more peheating power of said currents is high. The culiarly constructed and arranged coils surcoils S S S S may,in fact,be constructed of the rounding said core. These latter are emsame size of wire as is used for the primary ployed through the agency of any suitable P P. In this case we prefer to wind the coils device to produce the light orlights required together that is, winding a double length of 45 or to perform other work. wire in such a manner that the two wires In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is shall be parallel and side by side throughout a diagram of a form of apparatus embodying their entire length, as shown in Fig. 3. In our invention. Fig. 2 shows a detail of (3011- this case one coil subserves the purpose of the struction. Fig. 3 illustrates a modification coils P P, while the other coil serves the pur- 50 in the disposition of the primary and secondpose of the coil S S. The obvious equivalent of the latter method is to wind the two coils P P and S S in alternate single layers to subserve the same end. The two coils being of the same or substantially the same gage and the secondary being divided into sections, which may deliver currents independently of one another, as indicated in the other figures, the section of the secondary will be less than that of the primary and the sum of the currents evolved in said secondaries will exceed in quantity the quantity of the inducing-current.

The effect produced in the coils S S S S by the passage of a reversed current through the primary coils P P may be intensified by joining several cores M M, Fig. 4, with their accompanying coils, in such a position as to form a hollow polygon or endless magnetic core of suitable dimensions, and so that the magnetic polarization in the passage of the current through the coils P P will be in the same direction in the chain of cores so provided. The coils P P being connected in series, as shown, will take the alternating or other current through all the others. The coils S S, having independent or free terminals, may supply currents independently of one another to any circuit or circuits in obvious manner. This structure provides an endless core with primary and secondary coils embracing practically the whole peripheral length, the primary being in series and the secondaries in independent sections from which the currents of large heating effects may be drawn.

What, we claim as our invention is- 1. In a system of electric lighting the combination substantially as described, of an alternating-current circuit, an induction coil primary in said circuit, an induction-coil secondary acted upon by said primary and having an electrical resistance as low as that of the primary, and apparatus as described connected to said secondary.

2. The combination substantially as described in a system of electric lighting, of an alternating-current circuit, an induction-coil having its primary in said circuit, a local or separate circuit containing a translating device such as an electric light, and a secondary coil for the induction apparatus connected to said local or separate circuit and having an electric resistance less than that of the translating device.

3. In a system of electric distribution, a single alternating-current circuit fed from any suitable source, in combination with an ind uction-coil whose primary is included in said circuit, two or more local circuits each containing apparatus as described, and secondary coils for said induction-coil each connected to the circuit of an electric light or motive-power apparatus.

4. The combination in an apparatus for electric distribution, of an alternating-current circuit supplied with current from any suitable source, an induction-coil whose primary is connected to saidcircuit, an electric-lighting apparatus in an independent circuit, and a secondary for said induction-coil whose conductor is of substantially the same size as the primary andis connected to the local circuit, as and for the purpose described.

5. The combination in a system of electric distribution, of a main electric circuit supplied with an alternating current from any suitable source, and at a local point an induction-coil whose primary is connected to the said circuit while its secondary consists of a number of coarse-wire conductors each connected to a separate circuit containing electric-lighting or motive-power apparatus as described.

6. An induction apparatus as described consisting of a'magnetically continuous core with a primary wire or coil and a series of secondary coils having independent terminals.

7. In an induction apparatus, a series of cores joined end to end to form a magnetically continuous endless core, and having a series of primary coils connected into circuit with one another as described, in combination with secondary coils wound on the core-sections and having separate or independent terminals, as and for the purpose described.

8. In an induction apparatus, a series of iron cores connected end to end in a magnetically continuous or endless series, a primary. coil on each core-section an alternating-current circuit from which currents pass through to said primaries in series, and secondary coils on each core having independent terminals by which the current of each secondary may supply a circuit without passing through the other coils.

9. The combination with the endless core, of a set of primary coils embracing substantially the entire peripheral length and supplied with an alternating varying or intermittent current in series, in combination with secondary coils embracing also substantially the entire peripheral length of the core but having a multiplicity of free or independent IIO terminals by which the several coil-sections may supply currents independently of one another.

10. The combination in a system of electric lighting of a circuit connected with a source of alternating currents, an ind uction-coil wound with two conductors of substantially the same gage, one of which is included in said circuit, and an electric light connected to the other conductor.

11. In a system of electric distribution, an alternating-current primary line wound around an iron core, with a set of secondary coils in inductive relation thereto, and of a section greater than the primary,as described, the sum total of the currents in the secondary coils combined exceeding the current in the single primary.

l2. Asystem of electrical distribution comprising a main line having alternating currents, and induction-coils having their prieeasvo inaries fed from the main line and their secondaries feeding translating devices, the electrical resistance of each secondary beinglower than that of the translating devices fed from the same, substantially as described.

13. As a part of a system of distribution of alternating currents, an inductorinm the primary of which is fed from the main line and the secondary of which is in the consumptioncircuit and has a lower electrical resistance than the latter, substantially as described.

Signed at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts this 7th day of February, A. D. 1887, byE. THOMSON, and signed at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadel- T. 5 phia, State of Pennsylvania, this 15th day of February, A. D. 1887, by EDWIN J. HOUSTON.

ELIHU THOMSON. EDWVIN J. HOUSTON.

Vitnesses as to Thomson: J. W. GIBBONEY, E. WILBUR RICE, Jr. \Vitnesses as to Houston:

W. V. MAssEY, J. R. MAssEY. 

